Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-07
THREE LINKS IN 4 CHAIN

NlNlNs Nli NtA WI tAii llbhi l.lNA nave iitflt
occupied in dclincating on the canvas Of
memory certain scenes that belong 10 the
past. The reverie painted pictures are
three In number, and each is vivid, sharply
defined md stands conspicuously out in
its setting of trivial or eXacting crcum-
stance. Have they anything in common,
despite their seeming dissertations | he
Yin 10 think So. \ more dubious prob
lem; II there is indeed Il hidden secret
link between these events, will the dis
covery thereof aid or hinder the realiZa-
tiOn Of my dearest hope; ! have AT pres
eut no answer 10 this question.
The first scene imagination has con-
jured anew before me with ali the exact
ness of realism reveals the interior Of u
jewelers. shop in Rcnford, my native
town 1t is Il fine large business apart
mcnt. with its walls lined with cases dis
playing through their polished glass costly
articles of yrtu-for Mr.. Huntlet mag
uiiies his trade, and is a collcctor--and
H. counters spread with more cases, hold
ing in dainty nests gold and silver and
precious stones, fashioned in many forms
of use and ornament. Mr.. Iluntlcy's
shOpman is busy in the front rearranging
portion Of the stock; his employer and
are discussing i'm the Office semi-par-
titiOned Oft nj the rear, question of local
politics having no sort of connection with
the present narrative. My father is vicar
of Rcuford; and Mr.. Huntlcy, rs long as
! can recollcct, has been Wears church
warden-hence the intimacy between us;
and although | have commenced the study
Of medicine, and look speedily 10 sever the
tie Of residence in the quiet western town,
| am still interested i'm local affairs Sud
Hanit ba shgt, L.
. tWO--opcn one after the other-thc inner
one with sharp little jerk that bctokcns
nervousness or haste on the part Of the
prospective customer The austcre young
man who is polishing an enamel brooch
deity replaces it, slides back the case bot
tom with a subducd click and waits in
m attitude OF dcfercntial attention.
Standing AZ right angles 10 Mr.. lluntley's
desk, am facing the shop and the street,
and however injurious, am compelled 10
see and hear what passes.
Ii is young girl-she may be -,
she may be oldcr-Who hd, entered, and
there Is something about her that | find
Curiously attractive. She is a stranger TO
me, and therefore, perhaps, observe more
particularly the slim. shapely figure,
faWulike in its timid Yet graceful move
mcH,S; the pretty piquant profile, shc clear
complexion, with the pink spot. telling of
excitement, in the center Of the bcauti-
fully moulded check; the maynard golden
curls, that defy the restraint Of the sim
pie sun hat and the dress Of soft creamy
white, which so admirably suits both its
owner and the pleasant summer weather.
Erect energetic with an evident sense Of
humiliation playing the foil TO a touch of
unconscious hautcur-the vision comes
back a. | write
You wish 10 see the principal Miss
Did | understand correctly"
The girl gave quick gesture OF assent;
tho assistant calls his master and | left
with only the occupation Of the onlookcr.
From a small threadbarc rcticulc | see
produced bracelet. n ring and one or two
other articles, which seemed TO have
formed part Of fashionable lady's outfit
OF iewclry, The color has deepcned on
the maiGcn's face, and am fancying that
she IS at once proud Of her possessions
and anxious as 10 the result OF her present
enterprise. She has reason for her anxiety,
of which il is charitable 10 believe she
suspects nothing ! will he bold 10 say
that one cannot watch the changing
lights and shadows Of her counteuance
and think her the originator or willful ac-
complete Of fraud
''These-what can YOU give me for
these she asks in low. quvering voice
you do buy gems, ] believe; these are
very valuable, am told - She does not
appear 70 have the smallest appreciation
OF the fact that respectable tradcSman
Will hardly make q random offer for Jewels
that can be thus described, without in
quiry not only a. 10 the bona idcs Of the
applicant, but a. 10 the authority also for
the sale.
But this stage Is never reached. Mr.
Huntlcy has taken mp one by one the
cleaning wares, and one by one laid them
aside after an inspection which has its
result I'm making him phenomeually
grave and chasing storm line across
hi, forehead. "lIaye you any idea of tho
worth OF these articles, or Of cithCr--auy
one Of themy' he dryly asked.
think both the assistant and ny self i'm
stinctively prick up our cars. The girl
too, il startled by his tone II have been
asSurel-papa said it-that the stones IN
the bracelet alone cost ESQ -
The glance with which she meets Mr.
1iuntcy's keen look is rs open rs the day,
ana the expression on the jewelers. face
turns 10 one Of pity. II could not give
you rs many shillings, miss. The stones
are clever limitations, and that is I'll.
There is not one genuine amongst those
you have shown me. Mr. Skirrow, let
me have your opinion.
The assistant confirms the unflatteriug
Judgment, and does it with n sncer that |
felt disposed, though with no valid reason,
TO resent
The crimson tide has ebbcd, ana TIC
girls cheeks are blanched; her lips culver,
and nj first no sound comes from them;
her eyes slowly I'LL with tears fear
that she may drop in n swoon, but this
woman's weakness she does not seem &C.
share There are seconds Of ntolerablc
suspense for US all. At last there is a half
stihcd cry: jack how could you
II X plain that she accepts the stu
alton, and that her thoughts arc even
now busy with the solution of her dark
enigma. For the moment she has for
gotten her environment, and she muir
murs her vain protest against the--tO us
unknown culprit whose duplicity. how
ever exercised has plunged her into an
abyss Of shame Then she stammers an
apology. accepts mechanically at Mr.
lluntlcy's hands the shabby bag into
which he has gathered, by her PERMISSION
the dishonored treasures, and rctircs. /
4 Ia